WRITING INSTRUCTION
WRITING INSTRUCTION
Whether you’re helping students with the basics of essay organization or honing the skills of literary analysis, I know you could use a helping hand. Teaching writing is hard, and with every new class comes a new set of needs and challenges.
START HERE: WRITING INSTRUCTION
Let’s talk about a quick win — writing sprints. Writing sprints are a quick and easy instructional strategy that you can use for any writing: creative writing, brainstorming, revision, literary or rhetorical analysis…you name it! The idea is for students to split their brains in half: the editor and the composer. We ask students to turn off the editor and completely lean into the composer side of the brain. With a time limit and a focused direction for that time, students write as much and as fast as they can without judgment or stopping. Exercises like these help students break through mental barriers and strengthen their writing muscles. Grab the free slide deck above and try it with your students!
And as for the rest of the writing instruction that we need to tackle? I’ve got you covered from outlines to rubrics, from gen ed to AP Lang. Here are some of the most well-loved blog posts and products to help you on your writing teacher journey.
I’m also a guest collaborator on the writing teacher website TeachWriting.org where there’s a wealth of information and ideas, so be sure to check me out there as well!
WRITING INSTRUCTION BLOG POSTS TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTION
Best Selling Resources TO SUPPORT WRITING INSTRUCTION
“My students were super engaged with this, and the directions and materials are so well crafted that students were guided toward making powerful arguments about their choices. This was a lot of fun!”
“What a great way to break up the writing process and get kids to think about things one "chunk" at a time. It sounds simple, but worked like a charm for my reluctant writers.”
“The Hook consistently seems to be what trips my students up when writing their introductions. This is thorough and filled with examples to help make it a simpler process.”
“This resource, as well as your blog post on how you use it, has really changed the way I look at teaching writing! Thank you!”
October is here, and with it comes the annual challenge for secondary ELA teachers: how do you bring seasonal fun into the classroom without derailing the curriculum map?
Your students are buzzing with Halloween energy, but you have standards to teach. You can’t afford to spend a week on a "fluff" activity, but you also don't want to be the only room in the school ignoring the holiday.
The solution? Don't stop your unit. Instead, plug in a high-interest, rigorous, seasonal activity that matches the exact skills you're already teaching. Here is a quick guide to easy, "spooky season" lessons that keep the critical thinking rolling.